It's not easy to convince people the pain you are suffering from is more than just a bad headache. However, for migraine sufferers, things are starting to change for the better and, although the problem is not fully understood, there are ways to help keep it under control.

MIGRAINE is the most common neurological condition in the developed world but few non-sufferers appreciate how serious it really is.

It affects 10% of the population, more than 6m migraine sufferers in the UK - more than the number of diabetics, epileptics and asthmatics combined.

But migraines are still dismissed by many people as 'just a headache'.

Anita Few, executive officer of The Migraine Action Association, which organised an awareness week, says migraine is far more than 'just a headache'.

'Migraine is a serious neurological condition which has a really serious impact on people's lives,' she said.

'Migraine Awareness Week is aiming to change these perceptions and raise awareness among GPs and pharmacists.

'Many GPs have little understanding about how serious migraine is and there's little training for them.'

More than a third of migraine sufferers face discrimination at work, a survey by The Migraine Trust found, and 40% have their social lives disrupted by the condition.

Alan Bartle, chief executive of The Migraine Trust, said: 'Our concern is that many people just don't realise how significantly sufferers are affected - every working day, up to 90,000 people are absent from work or school as a result of migraine.

'The recent talk about unpaid sick leave and days off sick is particularly worrying for migraine sufferers, many of whom feel their condition is not taken seriously enough by employers.'